Rankin Plans Wolfpack Visit

Orlando (FL) East River linebacker Ryne Rankin will be visiting NC State after a recent offer from the Wolfpack.

Ryne Rankin has never been to NC State but he now has an offer from the Wolfpack and plans to see State up close and personal in the very near future.

The 6-1, 215-pound linebacker from Orlando (FL) East River had offers from UCF, Cincinnati, Louisville, UConn, Temple and Western Kentucky prior to last week.

In recent days he has picked up offers from Kansas and NC State. What is the Pack saying to him?

"I talked to Coach (Mike) Reed and I had seen him last year when he came in and looked at me," Rankin said. "I had a chance to talk to him on the phone.

"He looks like a good guy, a straight up, straight forward and hard nosed good coach. I'm actually going to NC State next week. I'm not sure about the date yet but it's during my spring break and my dad is going to travel with me and hit up a few schools."

Rankin's father is the head coach at East River. There's a good chance they will visit Georgia as well as some other schools.

"(Reed) said once I come up here then I'll see how I like it," he said. "He told me I would fit in. He said it's kind of country-style. He wants me to talk to the people around the school and not just the football guys. The people around the campus and neighborhood are going to be important too."

Rankin said he doesn't have any favorites but he hopes to make a decision by the spring or summer because he will be an early graduate so he can enroll in January.

What will be the biggest factors in his decision?

"The atmosphere," he said. "Since I'm gonna be there four or five years. That, facilities, academics and stuff like that. The people around help, too."

Rankin said he wants to major in sociology or criminal justice as his ultimate goal is to work for the FBI.

Last year he led the Sunshine State with 189 total tackles. Being the son of a coach doesn't hurt.

"I came out of the crib with a football in my hands," he said with a laugh. "I've been around football forever and I've been playing Pop Warner since I was seven years old."